Etymograph

English

Leatherdale

Although folk etymology suggests that this surname would be a toponymic one, from a place of the same name (from leather + dale), the toponym may just as likely come from similar-sounding roots, possibly Gaelic ones, not referring to leather.

A compound of leather + dale

Proto-Germanic *leþrą ‘leather’

Proto-West Germanic *leþr

Old English leþer ‘leather’

Middle English lether

English leather

Proto-Germanic *dalą ‘valley’

Proto-West Germanic *dal ‘valley’

Old English dæl ‘valley’

Middle English dale ‘a dale or valley’

English dale

The story

Although folk etymology suggests that this surname would be a toponymic one, from a place of the same name (from leather + dale), the toponym may just as likely come from similar-sounding roots, possibly Gaelic ones, not referring to leather.folk etymology The source marks this as unproven or a folk etymology. Quoted, not asserted.

Today it means

name A surname.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Leatherdale